[Avodah] Categorical imperative

[David Riceman]

Micha Berger wrote:
> If someone has the time to explain the Maharal's discussion in Tif'eres
> Yisrael pereq 6, I would be thrilled. (I'm a bit spread thin right now,
> behind schedule in other learning.) He discusses this machloqes and
> presents his own shitah.
>   
As usual when I look at the Maharal, I understand only a small fraction 
of what I suspect is there, but I'll give it a whirl since no one else 
seems to be doing so.  He seems to say that the person saying "al kan 
tzippor yagiu rahamecha" is guilty of a category error.  Running the 
world is, apparently tautologically, an instantiation of justice, not of 
mercy.   The mitzvot are part - - the word "part" is inaccurate but a 
full explanation requires a digression so please excuse it - - of how 
God runs the world, and hence must be instantiations of justice, not of 
mercy.  So attributing shiluah hakan to rahamim is just wrong.

The Maharal doesn't explain here why this particular error is so 
terrible that it deserves a special place in the mishna (and, as he does 
point out, the same mishna appears in two massechtot).  I have a guess, 
but I'd be much happier if someone more knowledgeable could provide a 
reference to somewhere the Maharal himself answers the question.

David Riceman